Open AccessNext‐generation ultrasonic recorders facilitate effective bat activity and distribution monitoring by citizen scientists
Author(s) -
Lundberg Piia,
Meierhofer Melissa B.,
Vasko Ville,
Suutari Miina,
Ojala Ann,
Vainio Annukka,
Lilley Thomas M.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ecosphere
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.255
H-Index - 57
ISSN - 2150-8925
DOI - 10.1002/ecs2.3866
Subject(s) - citizen science , data collection , documentation , limiting , variety (cybernetics) , scientific literacy , data science , quality (philosophy) , public relations , geography , environmental resource management , political science , computer science , science education , psychology , sociology , environmental science , engineering , biology , social science , mathematics education , mechanical engineering , philosophy , botany , epistemology , artificial intelligence , programming language
Time and budgetary resources are often a limiting factor in the collection of large‐scale ecological data. If data collected by citizen scientists were comparable to data collected by researchers, it would allow for more efficient data collection over a broad geographic area. Here, we compare the quality of data on bat activity collected by citizens (high school students and teachers) and researchers. Both researchers and citizen scientists used the same comprehensive instructions when choosing study sites. We found no statistically significant difference in total bat activity minutes recorded by citizens and researchers. Instead, citizen scientists collected data from a wider variety of habitats than researchers. Involvement of citizens also increased the geographical coverage of data collection, resulting in the northernmost documentation of the Nathusius’s pipistrelle so far in Finland. Therefore, bat research can benefit from the use of citizen science when participants are given precise instructions and calibrated data collection equipment. Citizen science projects also have other far‐reaching benefits, increasing, for example, the scientific literacy and interest in natural sciences of citizens. Involving citizens in science projects also has the potential to enhance their willingness to conserve nature.